Gemma woke early to light flooding in from under the thick curtains covering the window. She sat up in bed and stretched, still unable to believe that she actually was in the amazing canopy bed in an amazing mansion in Bellingham. She smiled as she slipped out of bed and went to the patio doors, pulling back the curtains to look out across the bay. The light was brightening rapidly. She checked her iPod for the time -- it was before six thirty, so she had time to get dressed and get ready, eat some breakfast, and then she and Mike would drive to Seattle for her school.
She heard a knock at the door to her bedroom. She was wearing the skimpy pink satin nightgown that barely covered her butt, and she didn't want anyone to see her privates, so she went over to the bed, pulling the sheet around her to cover herself up.
"Come in," she said, her voice breaking.
In came Mike, smiling widely. "Ready for breakfast, princess?"
"Just about. I have to get dressed," she said and pointed to her clothes on the bench at the bottom of her bed. "I'll be right out."
"Okay," Mike said. "Come out when you're ready. Wait till you see the spread Sonia puts on for breakfast. You'll freak."
"I'm hungry," Gemma said and smiled.
Mike left and Gemma quickly dressed. She finished fixing herself up and grabbed her backpack before glancing back one more time at her room.
If someone had told her only twenty-four hours earlier that soon she'd be living in a mansion earning five hundred dollars a day modeling, she'd tell them they were crazy.
Now, here she was. Later that day, after school and gymnastics practice, she'd have her first photo shoot. Once it was done, and she was paid, she could call herself a real model. Then, she'd never have to worry about Chris ever again...
She left the room and saw that Mike was standing beside the fireplace in Charice's apartment. Charice was still in her nightgown and robe, and didn't seem all that ready to go for breakfast.
"Shall we go get some breakfast?" Mike asked, holding his arm out.
"Yes, please," Gemma replied and gave Charice a smile.
"Have a good breakfast. See you later."
"See you," Gemma said and took Mike's arm when he offered it, like a perfect gentleman. They left Charice's rooms and walked down the staircase to the main floor. Mike led her into a huge kitchen, where Sonia was busy filling chafing trays with food.
"Get yourself a plate and help yourself. We have at least ten minutes before we have to go."
"Okay, thanks," Gemma said, still in disbelief about the whole business. She took a plate from a stack on the granite kitchen island, and went to the first chafing dish. Inside were scrambled eggs and Eggs Benedict. She took some of both and then Sonia poured some creamy sauce over top of the Eggs Benedict. Next, she took a couple of slices of bacon and some sausage. Finally, a couple of wedges of toast, and some cut melon.
It was better than anything Gemma had ever eaten.
She sat at the island countertop beside Mike, who had already finished getting his plate and together, they ate breakfast.
"This is amazing," Gemma said as she stuffed herself full of the delicious food. "It's better than I've ever had."
"Get used to it," Mike said. "If everything works out, this will be your home and your breakfast every day of the week. But don't enjoy it too much. John likes his girls on the thin side. Models have to watch their figures, after all."
Gemma smiled. She was naturally skinny, and hoped that all the delicious food wouldn't make her fat.
While they were eating, Mike went to the table and poured Gemma some juice. He brought it over to her and held up his own cup of coffee.
"Here's to the first day of the rest of your life," he said. "Cheers."
"Cheers," Gemma said and downed the sweet orange flavored juice. "You don't mind driving in and back every day?" Gemma asked.
Mike shook his head. "I get a cut of whatever money you earn for John, so it's in my interest that you're healthy and happy and earning good money as one of his models." He gave Gemma a big smile.
"You're, like, my agent?" she asked, having heard of modeling agencies and that models were represented by talent agents.
"You could call it that, yes," Mike said and gave her a smile. "Ready for a photo shoot?"
"I should really go to school," Gemma said and smiled. She checked her watch again. It was already after seven and the traffic might be heavy. "It's getting late."
"Listen, maybe you could take the day off," Mike said and raised his eyebrows. "We could do a shoot this morning so we can show the photos to John and he could pay you now."
She forced a smile, not wanting to be rude, but she didn't want to miss school again. She'd get dragged down to the Vice Principal's office and harangued for skipping.
"I don't know if I should," she said, cringing because she didn't want to ruin things. “I have gymnastics…”
"Just one day. You can go the rest of the week, but this way, if we do a shoot this morning, you can get paid and will have money for tomorrow. John will have a chance to see your photos and will be able to pay you tonight. He really can't until you do. Wouldn't it be nice to have five hundred dollars today?"
Gemma shrugged hesitantly, but then she figured it would be nice to have money. She could give half to her mother tomorrow and keep the other half. To pay for her share of the rent. Maybe Chris would be forced to leave her alone. She could miss one gymnastics practice…
"Okay," she said.
"Good girl," Mike replied. "I thought you'd like to get started."
Mike pulled out a joint and lit it, inhaling the smoke and handing it to Gemma when he was done.
She shook her head. "No thanks," she said and held up her hand. "I don't do pot."
"Come on," Mike said. "It'll relax you. It's high CBD so it's not going to get you stoned or anything. I do it for the chill it gives me."
Gemma made a face of regret. "No, I better not. I don't smoke at all. It makes me feel sick."
"Come on," Mike said. "It'll mellow you out for the shoot."
She shook her head.
"Your choice. I find it loosens girls up so that they're not so uptight the first few times they do a shoot."
She sighed. "Okay," she said, figuring that Mike knew what worked best, since this was his business. She'd only smoked a joint a few times in her life and never liked it when she did. In fact, it made her feel sick, she coughed so much. She gingerly took the joint from Mike and took a puff, trying to breathe in the smoke and holding it in like her friends had shown her, but she had a coughing fit and felt like a total newbie.
"Sorry," she said and handed the joint back to Mike "I'm not really used to it yet."
"That's okay. It'll take time."
They passed the joint back and forth between them as they sat at the kitchen island, listening to Top 40 hits on the satellite radio, the sun shining in from the huge windows.
Gemma felt like a grownup, sitting there with Mike, smoking a joint. She'd miss a day of classes, but she would make sure that she didn't miss any more. Gemma felt really calm and ready for the photo shoot. Maybe the pot had relaxed her, like Mike said. Whatever the case, she wasn't at all nervous. She was eager to put on the clothes and pose in front of Mike's camera. It would be amazing if John liked the photos and decided to use them, paying her five hundred dollars...
Five hundred dollars would buy a lot of cooperation from Chris. Maybe she'd be able to come home now and then and see how her mother was doing. Pay for a house cleaner so the house would be nice for a change. Wash the floors, clean the carpets. The kitchen was a nightmare compared to the one at the mansion. It made Gemma feel a bit sick to think of how dirty and dark her own home was compared to the mansion.
The truth was that Gemma would be glad to never have to go back and stay at her mother's place ever again. She'd be happy to sleep every night in the big canopy bed with all the pillows and the silky sheets and spend time around the pool during the afternoons when she got back from school.
"Let's go out to the pool," Mike said and took her hand. "I thought you'd like to see it in the daylight." Mike pointed to the pool. "It's an infinity pool. It looks like it has no edge. You should put on a bathing suit and give it a try. What do you say? It's warm enough out and the water is warm anyway."
"I'd like that," Gemma said. She wandered around the yard, glancing up at the high stone wall that surrounded the house. On top was barbed wire.
"Why is there barbed wire up there?"
Mike shrugged. "Keep the bears out, I guess."
"There are bears around here?"
"And coyotes. And raccoons. I've even heard there are cougars up in the hills behind us."
"Wow. What's with all the cameras?" she asked, pointing to the video cameras positioned along the wall.
"To make sure no one breaks in. John owns a lot of expensive art and he doesn't want thieves breaking in and stealing anything."
Gemma nodded. "It's beautiful here with all the trees."
"I'm glad you like it. I'll get Sonia to bring you a bathing suit. You can go for a swim. I might even take some photos of you by the pool."
"Okay," Gemma said. "Who does my makeup and hair?"
Mike shook his head. "No need for that now. This morning, it's like your screen test. Your audition. If you do a really good job, then there'll be work for you tonight."
Gemma nodded in understanding. "And if John doesn't like me?"
Mike waved his hand in dismissal. "Don't worry, kid. I'll be able to find some work for you. Just do what you're asked, and it'll be no problem."
Mike led her up to the pool and pointed to a small cottage-like building.
"That's the guest house that we use as a change room," he said. "Sonia will bring your suit and you can change in there. I'll get my camera and be out to take some photos."
"Okay," Gemma said and exhaled, trying to quell the tiniest bit of anxiety in her stomach at the prospect of being photographed. She glanced around and tried to tell herself how lucky she was to be out here, getting the chance to be a model.
A model!
In a couple of minutes, Sonia showed up and had some clothes in her arms. She gave Gemma a shy smile and kept her eyes downcast, like she didn't want to look at Gemma directly.
"Here you are," she said softly. "You can change inside. There's a big mirror that you can use to check yourself and a dresser with hairbrushes and some makeup if you want to put some on."
"Thanks," Gemma said and took the pile of clothes from the girl, who didn't look much older than Gemma when she saw her up close.
"You're the housekeeper and cook?" she asked.
"I'm kind of the Jill of All Trades," Sonia replied. "I work for Mr. Thompson. I'm his executive assistant as well. His personal assistant. Plus I do the housework and cook."
Gemma nodded and went into the small cottage.
Inside, was a bed and a bathroom. She imagined that guests might stay there, if the house was full. Given how big the house was, she had a hard time imagining it, but it was still pretty nice. The decor matched the rest of the house -- marble and wood and brocade. Gold fixtures.
She was so lucky...
Gemma removed her clothing, examining her naked body in the mirror before she put on the first bikini on the top of the pile. She still looked like a little girl, with no curves or hair. She sighed, impatient to finally grow up and be like the rest of the girls her age who were all becoming real beauties with breasts and hips.
Still, someone had to model children's clothing, so it might as well be her. If it meant money and freedom from Chris, she was all for it.
The first bikini was hot pink with a psychedelic print. It looked ridiculous, because there were no boobs to fit into the cups, but she pulled them tight enough against her skin and it didn't look half bad.
There was a knock at the door and Gemma startled, quickly pulling on the bottoms and adjusting them, feeling awkward because it was a thong bottom and she wasn't used to her buttocks showing. She grabbed one of the coverups in the pile and pulled it on.
"Yes," she called out as she wrapped the coverup around her body.
"Are you ready?"
The door opened and Mike poked his head in. "Gotta catch the early morning light before the sun's gone too high in the sky."
"Okay," she said and left with him, following him to the pool.
"Lie down on that lawn chair," Mike said, pointing to a white recliner by the pool.
Gemma complied, lying down with the cover up still on.
"Good," he said and started to photograph her. "That's good. Just do what comes naturally. Lay your head back and glance away. Yes, like that," he said when she tried to relax, looking away from the camera like she was thinking of something.
He finally asked her to remove the cover up and she did so slowly, hesitantly, feeling completely embarrassed now that she had to perform and had no idea what was expected.
"You're doing great Gemma," Mike said. "Take the whole wrap off and lie back. I want to make sure the photo includes the entire bikini, since that's what we're selling."
Then, he stood directly over her, his legs straddling the lawn chair, the camera right over her.
"Look up at me," he said, and she did. "Look right into the camera."
She did what he asked, resting her hand beside her head.
"Lick your lips so they're wet," he said, his voice soft. She did what he asked, and soon, he had her turn over on her stomach.
"We have to see the suit from all angles."
She couldn't tell what he was doing while she was lying on her stomach, but he was still standing over her, snapping pictures.
After a while, she felt much less self-conscious. He kept asking her to move and change position, showing her how to pose, what to do with her arms and legs, her face, all the while encouraging her, telling her how well she was doing, how beautiful she was.
Finally, he put his camera down and smiled.
"Wonderful. You did a great job, Gemma. I know these photos are going to make John very happy."
She smiled back. "Good," she said. "I hope so."